Alumina (Al2O3) is a versatile ceramic and a ‘workhorse’ ceramic that finds place in a wide range of applications— mechanical, thermal, electrical, electronic and even optic. Indian industries are well-versed in alumina products for applications like refractory bricks, insulator tubes, crucibles etc. But, alumina components for electronic and similar high-tech applications are still imported. The drawback of pure alumina for electronic applications is the large temperature-coefficient of relative permittivity. Currently imported alumina ceramics suffer from high drift of dielectric constant with temperature and need firing temperature above 1600°C. But, the compensated alumina (ComAl), developed by VSSC,has near-zero temperature coefficient and can be sintered at≤1475°C.

The ceramic has alumina as major content and a couple of additives and dopants. The powder of ComAl can be suitably processed further for making bulk productsas per requirement. Bulk green bodies can be fired at ≤1475°C for less than 2h to get sintered ceramic.Sintered products can be polished, sliced or cut or machined for various applications.Typical properties of bulk ceramics are shown below.

This indigenously developed BMT is equivalent to 8700 series of Trans-Tech and D series of Murata that are used in 10-25 GHz range.